Three Core Elements of a Good Story
- Tell your story—don’t compare it to others or fabricate details.
- Even “ordinary” stories can be powerful if they’re real.
- Authenticity allows listeners to see themselves in your story.
2. Vulnerability
- Share struggles, failures, and messy parts of life—these hold the redemptive thread.
- Must be genuine, not manipulative or agenda-driven.
- Different cultures view vulnerability differently; find what it means in that context.
- The hardest part of storytelling because it requires admitting weakness and imperfection.
3. Simplicity
- Avoid unnecessary details and side stories.
- Focus on key turning points and essentials.
- Keep language natural, not overly dramatic or artificial.
Framework for Building a Story
- Life Before Transformation
- Who you were, what you valued, what challenges you faced.
2. The Transformation Moment
- The specific event, person, or experience that sparked change.
3. Life After Transformation
- Show concrete changes in behaviour or mindset.
- Stay real—don’t wrap it up neatly (“I’ve learned” → “I’m learning”).
- Embrace ongoing growth and imperfection.
Big Takeaways
- Vulnerability is the hardest element, but it gives a story life.
- Stories should reflect the truth: transformation is rarely a straight line.
- Authentic, vulnerable, and simple storytelling invites others to connect and find themselves in the story.
- Stories are not performances or sales pitches—they are gifts to the listener.